Washing machine



.,Nv. 25, 1930. G. M, GmsoNk 1,782,684

WASHING MACHINE FiledAug. e, 1928 Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT oFFicE- GEORGE M. GIBSON, OF PELLA, IOWA, ASSIGNOR T WOODROWWASHING MACIIINE COMPANY, OF PELLArI-OWA, A CORPORATION IOWA l WASHINGMACHINE Application filed August 6, 1928. Serial No. 297,825.

rlhis inventionfrelates to washing machines of that type having anagitator shaft -projecting upwardly through the bottom of the tub andlprovided with an agitator on its upper end and Within said tub andadapted to operate adjacent to the bottom of the tub.

In this type of Washing machine the natural tendency of the clothesbeing washed is to gather and bunch in the center of the tub above theagitator, and they often become tangled in the agitator, causing theclothes to become tangled and hard to remove. In Washing machines ofthis type the agitator is usually provided with a large hub flange ordisk which is set in a recess in the bottom of the tub. This is anexpensive construction and is undesirable on account of dirt and lintcollecting in the recess, and considerable dilieulty is experienced inpacking the agitator a0 shaft.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide a washing machineof simple, durable and inexpensive constru-ction of the type employing areciprocating rotary agitator located nea-r the bottom of the tub, saidagitator being located and constructed so that an increased agitation ofthe clothes is made possible, and at the same time causing them to beseparated and distributed quite uniformly Within the Water in the tub,and eliminating to a large extent the tendency of the clothes to collector bunch at the center of the tub.

A further object is to provide in a Washing machine of the type abovedescribed anv improved agitator whereby the tendency of the clothes tocollect or twist about the agitator is reduced.

A further object is to provide in a washing machine of the type.v abovedescribed. im-

proved means for detacllably and operatively connecting the agitatorwith the agitator shaft.

A further object is to provide improved means for packing the agitatorshaft.

A further object is to provide an agitator so .constructed that it maybeused in connection With a flat bottom washing machine..

' My invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter-more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, andillustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: 1 f -v f,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional ,view. Figure 2 is a sectionalviewtaken'on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. y Y Figure 3 is an enlarged'`detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.l v.

My improved Washing machine comprises a tub 10, preferably ofcylindrical formation, and having a bottom 11 and a top 12. The top isprovided with an opening 13 through which the clothes are placedin thewashing ma` A cover 14: is provided for said'op'enchine. ins.

15, the lower ends of which are secured to a -horizontalplatform 16 onwhich an electric motor 17 is mounted. i The gear casing 18 isk securedbeneath the bottom of the tubl and provided with a vertically `arrangedagita- .tor shaft 19 which extends upwardly through the bottom of thetub. l The bottom of the tub 11 is provided with an opening 20 placed aconsiderable distance from the center of the bottom of the tub, and;

provided with a packing gland 21 through which the shaft 19 extends.Said gland comprises a conical shell 22 which projects up- Wardly intothe washing machine tub, and has a flange 23 at its lower end. A screwthreaded plug or'bushing 24' is provided for increasing the pressure outhe packing'withm the gland 21. The -packingchamber is comparativelylargev to hold a large amount of packing material, thereby providlngmeans whereby a water tight joint will be lnsured without excessivepressure on the packing material. The conical' shaped member extendsupwardly inl'o the tub a conslderable distance ,which helps to decreasethe Water pressure 'on'the packing.

An annular plate 25 is secured to the upper surface of the bottom 11 andsurrounding the opening 20. Said annular plate, the bottom 11 and theflange 23 are secured together by means of bolts or rivets 26. Theupperand The tub 10 is supported suitable legs 'lhe upper' end of the shaft19 is provided with a triangularly shaped block 2T fixed to said shafta,slight distance below the upper end, and is designed to support andOperate the agitator` 2S, which comprises a hollow hub portion 29 whichhas the form of a truncated, three-'sided prism, the lower end of whichterminates in a flange or disk 30 designed to be supported above theplate 25, and has its outer edge turned downwardly over the edge of saidplate.

The upper end of the hub 29 is provided with an opening 31 for receivingthe upper end of the shaft 19, while the hub 29 is designed to rest onthe block 27 which provides means for imparting motion to said hub, andat the same time permits the hub to be easily and quickly removed bysimply grasping and elevating the same. y

The corners of the hub 29 are provide with agitator blades 32 and 33,the blades 32 being of the same length, while the blade 33 isconsiderably longer. The blades 32 are considerably wider verticallythan the blade 33, and the blade 33 is set at a nearer vertical anglethan the blades 32. The lower edge of the blade 33 is cut away so thatthere is a greater distance between the lower edge of the blade 33 andthe bottom of the tub than the distance between the lower edge of theblades 32 and the bottom of the tub.

It will be seen that the agitator is supported eceentrically within thetub with the blades 32 supported in the smaller space between the theshaft and the side of the tub, while the blade 33 is supported in thelarger space, as clearly shown in Figure 2, when the agitator is in theposition of its half stroke.

The shaft 19 is actuated by means of an arm 34 securred to the lower endof said shaft. and operatively connected with a crank gear 35 by meansof a link 36. Said gear 35 is actuated through a gear 37, the clutchdevice 38 and a worm gear 39, said gear 39 being operated b v a` worm4() supported on the shaft 41. which in turn is actated by means of abelt 42 driven by the motor 17. By this arrangement it will be seen thatan oscillatory rotary movement will be imparted to the. agitator as themotor 1T is operated.

The height of the agitator is usually about half the depth of the tub`and the tub is filled with water with the water line slightly overthree-fourths the distance from the top io the bottom. The agitator isoperated comparatively rapidly, about seventy-seven strokes per minute,which produces a large amount of agitation in the water, the water beingso agitated as to cause the clothes to be tditributed quite uniformlythroughout the u It will readily be seen that as the agitator 1soscillated. the water will have a tendency r to move radially outwardlyfrom the ends of the blades, causing a partial vacuum to be created nearthe center of the agitator, whicH causes the clothes to move toward thecenter of the agitator. This causes a large amount of diiiiculty whenthe agitator shaft is placed n alinement with the vertical center' ofthe tub. The'clothes usually collect and tangle about the agitator.

This diliiculty is largely overcome with my device by placing the centerof the agitator shaft to one side of the tub and providing short blades32 and a longer blade 33 mounted as above described.

In operating the machine with comparatively few or no clothes in thewater, a whirlpool will be established at the point A, which is thevertical center of the tub. In

this respect my agitator operates subst-antialblade 33 has a tendency tomove the water at a higher velocity than the blades 32.

The natural tendency ofthe water is to move outwardly along the bottomof the tub and upwardly along its vertical sides and inwardly over thetop, thence downwardly at the point A causing the whirlpool abovereferred to.

On account of the agitator having a tendency7 to create a vacuum abovethe center of the hub 29, and on account of the outer end of the blade33 having a tendency to create a vacuum back of the outer end of theblade, it will be seen that two separate vacuum points are thusestablished and clothes moving into the whirlpool A will be separatedand spread as they travel to the two vacuum centers, part of the clothesmoving toward the point B, while the other part moves toward the centerofthe agitator. This results in the clothes being distributed quiteuniformly and evenly through the tub. and at the same time arecontinuously moved about.

Because of the oscillatory movement of the agitator, the cycle oi'operation above described is not continuous, but the clothes move in amore or less intermittent manner and a rc oscillated in ,a horizontalplane as well as travel in paths established in a vertical and radialplane.

On account of the outer end of the blade 33 being higher than the outerends of the blades 32, the tendency toward the water in the bottom ofthe tub to synchronously follow the oscillatory movement of the blades32 is largely eliminated, due to the fact that the izo outer end ofthebladeisoperating in a plane above the plane in `which the ,blades 32open' ate. and diie to the fact that the moveiii'ent of.

vation than that above the blades 32, in theV manner as illustrated inFigure l.`

By this arrangement, the clothes are not` only agitated in a horizontaloscillatory path,

but they arealso agitated in a vertical oscil-l latory path.

The tendency of the outer end of the blad'e 33 to create a vacuum of acomparatively highdegree, greatly assist-s iii preventing the buncliingof the clothes at theceiiter of the agitator by forming outward currentsof Water from the center of the agitatorto the ends of the blades, theradial velocit. of

which, is in excess of the radial velocity rom' the blades 32. Y Y j It`Will readily be seen that ifaportioiiof the clothes are separated andmovedfto the' outer end of the blade 33, thenjtlie othei1 portionWill bemoved to the outer .endqpof .the blades 32, instead of bunching andcollecting in the center of the top of the agitator, which hasheretofore resulted. when the agitator is located in the center of thetub with the blades of uniform length and Width.

By providing the annular plate 25 and turning the outer end of the platedownvardly over the edge of the plate, I have provided an agitator whichmay be placed above a flat bottom tub Without any danger.

ofthe clothes gathering or beconiing entangled between the bottom of thetub and the-agitator, and without having to form a depression in the.bottom of the tub to receive the flange, as has hcretoforebeenthepractice.

By this construction, I am enabled to forni a hub flange ofcomparativelysmall diameter instead of making the flangeof a diaineter substantiallyequal to twice the length of the blades. Y

ly providing the triangularly shaped block Q7 and inclining` the wallsof the hnlil), I

4have provided meansl whereby the agitator may be easily and quicklyremoved or replaced without thcusc of set screws or the like, and at thesaine time tirinly and rigidly supports the agitator in position.

On account of the blade lil being longer than the blades 32, it willreadily be seen that it necessary to place the agitator in properrelation with the shaft 19. This I have accomplished by mounting theblock 27 slightly olf of its center on the shaft 19, and inak` ingthesaid ,block 2T with' tivo. of .its laces larger than its third face,and :forming the hub 29 to Vtitfthe same.'f .A l:

.Thus it ..\vill be seen that- I have yprovided aWashing,machineotsimple, durable and. in# expensive construction, vvhichis capable of rapidly ,Washing the clothes, onwaccount of.`

excessive agitation produced-iii the ".itci, and..

on account of its ability Vto separate 'the clotliesja-nd distributethem.-througliout thc tub, so that .a maximum amountozfvivatciivill atall times be forced andcirculated .through the clothes. i

I claimas my invention y:

1. A Washiiigvmachine compr-isinga tub, airagitator adapted to oscillateabovela .ver-

ticalaxis mounted eccentrica-lly .within said tub, said agitatorcomprisirigaliub portion having radial upright blades, y one said bladesbeing longer than the others, -and means for imparting oscillatoryrotarymovcf nient to said agitator.

2. In combination, av-ivashiiiig machine, a.

tub, va vertical agitator shaftfi-niounted ecfl centrically `within saidtub,-an agitatorhaving a comparatively large hubportion detachably andoperatively connected tothe-upper end of said shaft, said-hubliaviiigradial 'upf' right.` blades, one of which is narrower and,longer than the others' and designed to oscillatein a larger spacebetween the sides of sa-id tub 'and said hub portion, andnieans-forini-- parting rotary oscillatory movement,A .to said shaft. 1 4 J 3. Ina Washing machine,.aii agitator. provided'with a hub portion having theAforni ot-v a hollow, three-sided truncated i -prism,.thefv verticalcorners of said radial agitator blades.

prism terminating iii 4. In a washing machine, 'ani agitator providedwith a hub portion having the form ofa liollow,threesided truncatedprism, 'the verj tical corners of said prism terminating iii radialagitator blades,one ofsaid blades .being longer than the others withitsonter end designed to operate in a horizontal planeabove the upperends of the other-blades.-

' 5. In a washing inacli1ne, an agitatorprovided with a hub portionhaving'the form of a hollow, threesidedtruncated prism, 'the verticalcorners of said prism terminating in radial agitator blades, the lowerend of said hub portion terminating ina disk oi-flaiigo havingitsperiplieral edge bent down wa'rdly to forni an annular flange. 1 v

(i.` In combination, a washingmachinc-tub having'abottom and sides` the`bottom being provided with an eccentrically arranged opening, an annularplate on the 'upper face-ol' said bottonisurrounding said opening, apacking gland supported withiiiisaid opening, aii'oscilla'tory shaftsupported in saidA packing gl-and having one end extending u iinto'sa'id Washing machine, the upperend o saidsliaft being providedwith a "triangularly shaped ies - having a bottom and sides, the vbottombeing provided with an eccentrically arranged opening, an annular plateon the upper face of said bottom surrounding said'opening, a packing lgand supported withinsaid opening, an oscillatory shaft supported in saidpacking gland having one end extending up into said washing machine, theupper end of said shaft being provided with a triangularly shaped blockhaving the form of a. truncated prism, an agitator hub having the formof a hollow truncated prism designed to be supported over said block,the lower end of said hub portion terminating in a fiange or disk havingits peripheral edge turned downwardly over the edge of said annularplate, the vertical corners of said agitator terniinating in radialblades, one of said blades being longer and of a higher. elevation thanthe others. p

8. A washing machine comprising a tub, an agitator adapted to oscillateabout a vertical axis mounted eccentrically within said tub,saidagitator comprising a hub portion having radial upright blades, thearea of the active faces of some of said blades being greater than theareal of the others, and means for imparting oscillatory rotary movementto said agitator.

9. In combination, a. washing machine tub having a bottom and sides, thebottom being provided with an eccentrically arranged opening. an annularplate on the upper face of said bottom surrounding said opening, apackinggland supported within said opening. an oscillator shaftsupported in said packing gland having one end extending up into saidwashing machine, the upper end of said shaft being provided with atriangularly shaped block having the form of a truncated prism, anagitator hub having tbc form of a hollow truncated prism designed to besupported over lsaid block. the lower end of said hub portionterminating in a iangc or disk having its peripheral edge turneddownardly over tbe edge of said annular plate, the vertical corners ofsaid agitator termiuat ing in radial blades. V

lt). In combination, a washing machine tub having a bottom and sides,the bottom being provided with an eccentrically ar` ranged opening, anannular plate over the upper face of said bottom surrounding saidopening, a packing gland supported within said opening, an oscillatoryshaft supported in said packing gland having one end extending upwardlyinto said washing machine, an agitator hub supported on the upper end ofsaid shaft, the lower end of said hub terminating in a tiange or diskhaving its peripheral edge turned downwardly over the edge of saidannular plate.

11. In combination, a washing machine tub having a bottom and sides, thebottom being provided` with an eccentrically .arranged opening, anannular plate over the upper face of said bottom surrounding saidopening, a packing gland supported within said opening, an oscillatoryshaft supported in said plate over the upper surface of said bottomsurrounding said opening, a packing gland supported within said opening,an oscillatory shaft supported in said packing gland having one endextending upwardly into said washing machine, and an agitator hubsupported on the upper end of said shaft, the lower end of said hubterminating in a flange or disk having its peripheral edge turneddownwardly over thev edge of said annular plate.

13. In combination, a washing machine tub having a comparatively thinbottom and an opening therein, an annular flange adjacent to one side ofsaid bottom and surround- Y ing said opening, a packing gland supportedwithin said opening having a flange to engage the other side of saidbottom, an annular packing between one of said flanges and said bottom,bolts for securing said ianges, packing and bottom members together, andan oscillatory shaft supported in said packing gland having one endextending upwardly into said washing machine.

Des Moines, Iowa, July 13, 1928.

GEORGE M. GIBSON.

